Shoe for use with edge rolling apparatus



July 11, 1967 c. E. MUELLER ET 3,330,144

SHOE FUR USE WITH EDGE ROLLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 25,1964 urinal!!! IIIIIIv,

July 11, 1967 MUELLER ET AL 3,330,144

SHOE FOR USE; WITH EDGE ROLLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov. 25,1964 RICHARD D. FOLLRATH R E L L E U M E R E T S E H C United StatesPatent 3,330,144 SHOE FOR USE WITH EDGE ROLLENG APPARATUS Chester E.Mueller and Richard D. Follrath, Muskegon,

Mich., assignors to Anaconda Wire and Cable Company, a corporation ofDelaware Filed Nov. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 413,340

9 Claims. (Cl. 72--250) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An edge rollingapparatus for metal strip comprises flattening blocks that are cut outto fit closely to the rolls. A plurality of such blocks are shaped toadjustably intermesh with each other.

Our invention relates to a flattening shoe for use in edge rolling metalstrip and particularly to such a shoe for strip having a very high ratioof width to thickness.

In application Ser. No. 373,159 by one of the applicants in the presentcase there is disclosed apparatus for edge rolling metal strip to beused in the manufacture of magnet strip. Such strip is usuallycharacterized by a very high width to thickness ratio which makes itsusceptible to buckling under the pressure of the rolls in any knowntype of edge-rolling apparatus. This is particularly true in view of thephysical nature of electrical strip which must have high electricalconductivity and is most commonly made from aluminum or copper, thelatter being, in many instances, soft.

When strip is edge-rolled it is passed horizontally between pairs ofrolls mounted on vertical axes, and it has been known to preventbuckling of the strip by mounting pairs of horizontal rolls so that thestrip passes horizontally between them. This structure is satisfactoryfor heavy-gage steel strip but for relatively thin strip of a metalhaving less inherent stiffness, the line contact afforded by horizontalrolls is not sufficient to prevent transverse buckling and rippling ofthe strip. It is a problem, too, in edge-rolling magnet strip that thehorizontal confinement of the strip must extend in very close proximityto the edge rolls themselves, since even a short unsupported span issubject to buckling when the material is very thin, and in this regardit should be considered that magnet strip to which our invention islargely directed may have a thickness of only 8 mils, and even less.

We propose by our invention to edge-roll metal strip of extreme width tothickness ratio without warping or buckling.

We propose by our invention to be able to edge-roll thin strips of softmetals such as copper and aluminum.

We further propose by our invention to be able to flatten strips ofdifierent widths during the edge-rolling operation.

We have invented a shoe for an edging machine of the type where a thinstrip is advanced between edge rolls that compress the strip laterally.Our shoe comprises a plurality of upper blocks with smooth coplanarlower surfaces and a plurality of lower blocks with smooth coplanarupper surfaces. There are means mounting the blocks against the upperand lower surfaces of the strip between the edge rolls and meansyieldingly urging the upper and lower blocks together. Both the upperand lower blocks comprise two outer members with curvilinear depressionsthat fit around the edging rolls and also comprise two intermediatemembers. The intermediate members have intermeshing fingers and theblocks are laterally adjustable so that the shoe can accommodate stripsof different widths which require different spacings 3,336,144 PatentedJuly 11, 1967 'ice of the rolls. Our apparatus also comprises means thatlock the block members in spaced relation to each other and to therolls. Preferably the block surface in contact with the strip are asynthetic resin such as nylon.

A more thorough understanding of our invention may be gained by studyingthe appended drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 shows a side elevation of an edge-rolling machine incorporatingour invention.

FIGURE 2 shows a plan view of the machine of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 shows a perspective view of a set of blocks used in ourinvention.

FIGURE 4 shows a perspective view of a pressure plate used in ourinvention.

FIGURE 5 shows a perspective view of another .set of blocks used in ourinvention.

FIGURE 6 shows a perspective view of still another set of blocks used inour invention.

In a machine, indicated generally by the numeral 10, a plurality ofedging rolls 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 are urged toward each otherby hydraulic rams 19a, 19b, 26a, 2012 so that they press against edges21, 22 of a metal strip 23 with the edges 21, 22 entering respectivegrooves 24, 25 in the rolls 12, 11, and corresponding grooves in theremaining rolls 13-18. The rolls 11, 13 and associated ram 19a aremounted on a platform 26; the rolls 12, 14 and ram 19!; are mounted on aplatform 27. The rolls 11-14 and their platforms can be adjustedrelative to each other by means of a threaded shaft 28 and hand crank29. Similarly platforms 31, 32 mounting the remaining rolls can beadjusted by means of a crank 33. It is apparent that the pressurecreated by the rams 19a, 19b, 20a and 2012 against the edges 21, 22 willtend to buckle the strip 23, and to prevent this buckling We haveprovided a shoe indicated generally .by the numeral 34. In theembodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2 the shoe 34 comprises upper blocks 36,37a, 37b, 38a, 38b, 39 and lower blocks 41, 42a, 43a, and 44 to supportthe strip between the rolls 11, 13 and 12, 14. There is a similar shoebetween each double pair of rolls. The blocks 37a, b are screwed to amounting 46 which is adjustably clamped by means of clamps 47, 48 andslide block 49 to rails 51, 52, 53. Similarly the blocks 38a, b arescrewed to a mounting 54 which is held to the rails 51-53 by clamps 55,56, and a slide block 57. The block 37a has fingers 58, 59 extending tothe right as seen in FIGURE 2 and the block 38a has fingers 61, 62,.extending to the left and so dimensioned and positioned that theyalternate with the fingers 58, 59 and the two pairs of fingers slidepast each other in such a manner that the width of the surface presentedby the combined blocks 37a, 38:: can be adjusted to meet therequirements of the particular size of strip being processed in ourapparatus.

In the area where the fingers 58, 59 and 61, 62 slide past each otherthe blocks 37a, 38a are held down by a pressure plate 63 clampedsimilarly to the mountings 46, 54, to the rails 51-53 by clamps 64, 65and a slide block 66. The plate 63 has flat channels which can best beseen in FIGURE 4. These channels are just large enough to provide aslide fit for the intermeshed fingers of the blocks, a channel 67fitting the blocks 37a, 38a and a channel 70 fitting the pair of blocks37b, 33b. Other blocks can be seen in FIGURE 2 and, generally speaking,for each opposing pair of rolls such as the rolls 11, 12 there is a pairof blocks with intermeshing fingers and a channel such as the channel 67in a pressure plate such as the plate 63. The pressure plate 63 andsimilar plates in our apparatus and the mountings such as the mountings46, 54 are clamped to the outside rails 51, 53 by clamps such as theclamps 64, 65 and are held to the .screws 71, 72. The edges of the stripare prevented from buckling by the blocks 36, 39, screwed to respectivemountings 73, 74 attached to the rails 51, 52, 53 in a manner similar tothe mountings hereinbefore described. In order to support the stripfully in the neighborhood of the rolls 11, 13 the block 36 is cut awayto form curvilinear depressions 76, 77 (FIGURE which curve around an arcof the rolls during the operation of our apparatus. The upper block 36is matched by a lower block 41, the upper block 3711 has a matchinglower block 42a, block 37b is matched by a similar lower block notshown, block 38a is matched by block 43a, block 38b is also matched by asimilar lower block not shown, and

A block 39 is matched by a lower block 44. The lower blocks are screwedto mountings and slide in grooved pressure plates in a manner analogousto the upper blocks. Thus the block 42a is screwed to a mounting 78which is adjustably attached to a rail 79 by a slide lock 81. Themounting 78 is also attached by similar means to lower railscorresponding to the upper rails 52, 53 and directly beneath them, butnot shown in the drawing.

Although FIGURE 2 of the drawing shows an apparatus with four pairs ofrolls it will be understood that a greater or lesser number may be usedwithin the scope of our invention with the provision that smooth-surfaceblocks comprising elements of the shoe of our invention shall flattenthe strip between each pair of rolls, as hereinabove explained.

In FIGURE 6 a set of blocks 82, 83, 84, 85 is shown suitable for use onnarrower strip and characterized by having curvilinear depressions 86,87, 88 and a similar depression in the block 85, cut directly in thesame blocks that have the intermeshing fingers. Use of the blocks 82-85eliminates the need for separate blocks 36, 39 and the blocks 82-85 aremounted in a manner entirely analogous to the mounting of the blocks37a, 38a, 42a,

43a hereinabove described.

As can best be seen by reference to FIGURE 3 each a block, such as theblock 38a, is comprised of a thick are mounted against compressionsprings, such as springs 97, 98 (FIGURE 1) held by headed pins 99, 100.

We have invented a new and useful apparatus for which we desire an awardof Letters Patent.

We claim:

1. In an edging machine of the type wherein a finegage metal striphaving a high Width-to-thickness ratio is advanced in lateralcompression between opposingly spaced edge rolls, an adjustableflattening shoe comprising:

(A) a plurality of upper blocks having smooth coplanar lower surfaces,

(B) a plurality of lower blocks having smooth coplanar upper surfaces,

(C) means mounting said upper and lower blocks respectively against theupper and lower surfaces of said strip between said edge rolls,

(D) means yieldingly urging said upper and said lower blocks together,

(B) said plurality of upper blocks and said plurality of lower blockseach comprising two members having curvilinear depressions fittingaround said rolls,

(F) said blocks being laterally adjustable, thereby accommodating stripsof different width and different roll spacings. V

2. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said surfaces are synthetic resin.

3. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said surfaces are nylon. 4. In an edgingmachine of the type wherein a linegage metal strip having a highwidth-to-thickness ratio is advanced in lateral compression betweenopposingly spaced edge rolls, an adjustable flattening shoe comprising:

(A) a plurality of upper blocks having smooth coplanar lower surfaces,

(B) a plurality of lower blocks having smooth coplanar upper surfaces,

(C) means mounting said upper and lower blocks respectively against theupper and lower surfaces of said strip between said edge rolls,

(D) means yieldingly urging said upper and said lower blocks together,

(E). said plurality of upper blocks and said plurality of lower blockseach comprising two outer members defining curvilinear depressionsfitting around said rolls, 7 (F) said plurality of upper blocks and saidplurality of lower blocks each comprising two intermediate 7 membersspaced between said outer member,

(G) a plurality of fingers extending from each of said 7 twointermediate members,

(a) said fingers on one of said two members alternating with saidfingerson the other of said two members and intermeshing therewith,

(H) said blocks being laterally adjustable, thereby accommodating stripsof different width and different roll spacings, a i

(I) means locking said members in spaced relation to each other and tosaid rolls.

5. The shoe of claim 4 wherein said surfaces are synthetic resin.

6. The shoe of claim 4 wherein said surfaces are nylon. 7. In an edgingmachine of the type wherein a finegage metal strip having a highwidth-to-thickness ratio is advanced in lateral compression betweenopposingly spaced edge rolls, an adjustable flattening shoe compris- (A)two upper blocks having smooth coplanar lower surfaces,

(B) two lower blocks having smooth coplanar upper 7 surfaces,

(C) each of said blocks defining curvilinear depressions fitting aroundsaid rolls, and

(D) each of said blocks comprising a plurality of fingers intermeshingwith fingers of another of said blocks,

(B) said blocks being laterally adjustable thereby accommodating stripsof different width and different roll spacings,

(F) means locking said blocks in spaced relation to each other and tosaid rolls.

8. The shoe of claim 7 wherein said surfaces are syrithetic resin. 7

9. The shoe of claim 7 wherein said surfaces are nylon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,184,582 12/1939 Cook 72250FRANCIS s. HUSAR, Primary Examiner.

1. IN AN EDGING MACHINE OF THE TYPE WHEREIN A FINEGAGE METAL STRIPHAVING A HIGH WIDTH-TO-THICKNESS RATIO IS ADVANCED IN LATERALCOMPRESSION BETWEEN OPPOSINGLY SPACED EDGE ROLLS, AN ADJUSTABLEFLATTENING SHOE COMPRISING: (A) A PLURALITY OF UPPER BLOCKS HAVINGSMOOTH COPLANAR LOWER SURFACES, (B) A PLURALITY OF LOWER BLOCKS HAVINGSMOOTH COPLANAR UPPER SURFACES, (C) MEANS MOUNTING SAID UPPER AND LOWERBLOCKS RESPECTIVELY AGAINST THE UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES OF SAID STRIPBETWEEN SAID EDGE ROLLS, (D) MEANS YIELDINGLY URGING SAID UPPER AND SAIDLOWER BLOCKS TOGETHER, (E) SAID PLURALITY OF UPPER BLOCKS AND SAIDPLURALITY OF LOWER BLOCKS EACH COMPRISING TWO MEMBERS HAVING CURVILINEARDEPRESSIONS FITTING AROUND SAID ROLLS, (F) SAID BLOCKS BEING LATERALLYADJUSTABLE, THEREBY ACCOMMODATING STRIPS OF DIFFERENT WIDTH ANDDIFFERENT ROLL SPACINGS.